My Dad was in hospital and even though we'd been told by the Doctors that they were expecting a "full recovery" I woke up very early one morning feeling a strong sense of urgency and panic which I couldn't ignore. I knew I had to get into the hospital to see my Dad as  soon as possible.

I was driving through the countryside on a beautiful sunny morning and there were no other cars on the road ... from a distance I suddenly made out three small figures on the other side of the road ahead of me, I naturally slowed down and as I got closer I realized it was three rabbits - two were leaning over one which was lying on the road - it looked like it was dying, it was struggling to breathe (perhaps hit by a car just moments earlier?) ... I very slowly pulled over and put the car's hazard lights on and stared at this scene for a second. I'd never seen anything like this - the two rabbits were on their haunches leaning over the other one but they bolted off as soon as I opened my car door. I walked over and leant over the dying rabbit and it looked straight into my eyes as the light went out of its own eyes and died. I cried out as I'd never seen an animal - indeed anything - die close up like this before. I knew a car would come soon and the rabbit was positioned on the road in such a way that it would be hit it again which I couldn't bear the thought of so I went back to my car and took out a magazine and folded it end gently moved the dead rabbit into the hedgerow.

I then drove to the hospital for the same death scene to play out again; only with my Dad. When I arrived he was alone in his hospital room and in lots of pain and was writhing in his hospital bed, he looked so small and frail and felt clammy on his forehead, his breathing was labored. I was completely confused and shocked as I'd left him in good spirits the night before. The hospital staff outside his door all seemed a bit panicked and were rushing around/making calls and running into and out of Dad's room - they told me they were "sorry" and that it wasn't looking good for him and that they were awaiting a Doctor from ICU to come up. I stood in his room and held Dad's hand and a nurse stood beside me as we both stared at him and he suddenly looked up at a corner of the room and the light left his beautiful blue eyes. He died in front of us. A crash team then ran in as I fled the room in complete shock and panic. They managed to revive Dad but he never regained consciousness. He died a few hours later.

I only recently told one friend about what happened with the rabbits earlier that day, as it's all still so raw and painful to discuss with my family. It was like some sort of premonition or warning from Nature that I was about to undergo the most painful moment of my life.

Am still not sure what to think about it. But all I can say is that it was nature that then helped me in the bleakest hours, days and weeks ahead, which gave me any form of comfort, nothing and no-one else could (and still can't). I couldn't bear being away from nature and as soon as I found time, I'd go out to ancient woods or tranquil nature reserves and would feel so comforted by it all. Everything seemed (and still does seem) so vivid and bright and alive and I could feel my Dad in the trees, in birdsong and in the wind. I've always been more of a City person so this all came as quite a surprise to me. I'd look out for him as I felt and still feel him around me in that setting - he has never visually appeared but I feel like he's with me; it's hard to explain.

Was this experience difficult to express in words?       No

How long did the experience last?      minutes

Was the beginning and end of the experience gradual or more sudden?          n/a

What was the best and worst part of your experience?    seeing my father die

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?          Uncertain